WE TV Orders Next Generation Hip-Hop Series ‘Growing Up Hip Hop’

WE TV is exploring whether the members of the upcoming generation of hip-hop royalty can take their elders’ seats on the thrones with its order of the docu-series “Growing Up Hip Hop.”

The series follows the younger relatives of music legends Damon Dash, Rev. Run, Russell Simmons, Master P, El DeBarge and Pepa as they attempt to build their own lives and fortune in careers ranging from music to acting and fashion.

“Hip-hop is a hugely popular music genre, but beyond the songs it has become a lifestyle and has influenced a generation of young people,” said Marc Juris, WE TV’s president. “‘Growing Up Hip Hop’ profiles what it’s like to be raised by hip-hop legends, living in their shadow while trying to balance success and independence.”

The show will profile Romeo Miller (formerly known as Lil’ Romeo), a musician and the son of Master P; Angela Simmons, a hip-hop socialite, model and fashion designer and the daughter of rap pioneer Rev. Run and niece of Russell Simmons; Damon “Boogie” Dash, an entrepreneur and son of Roc-A-Fella co-founder and media mogul Damon Dash; Kristinia DeBarge, a singer-songwriter and daughter of James DeBarge from the group DeBarge; Egypt Criss, a musician and daughter of Sandra “Pepa” Denton from Salt-N-Pepa and rap figure Treach from Naughty by Nature; and TJ Mizell, a DJ and son of the late Jam Master Jay of Run D.M.C.

The six-episode docu-series from Entertainment One is scheduled for a late 2015 premiere.

“Growing Up Hip Hop” is exec produced by John Morayniss and Tara Long for eOne, along with Romeo Miller, Angela Simmons, Percy Robert Miller (aka Master P) and Datari Turner. Turner’s Datari Turner Productions is co-producing the series.

I can’t think of anything less interesting (obviously, I am NOT their market), but for the record, TJ Mizell is the son of the late Jam Master Jay, who was the DJ for Run DMC and the label head who signed Onyx and 50 Cent to JMJ Records in the 90s. He was murdered in his studio in the early 2000s which is still an unsolved case.